New Eagles QB Kolb commands almost instant respect

Kevin Kolb has been handed the reins of a thoroughbred offense and asked to steer the Eagles to a win in what promises to be a tight and nasty NFC East race.

Never mind that the new starting quarterback is ostensibly still an apprentice and that the team is coming off back-to-back horrific wipeouts in Dallas. Kolb has earned unconditional trust not only from the coaching staff, but from his teammates, despite having made just two starts since being drafted in 2007.

The day after the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, so many Eagles stepped up to offer unsolicited, if not over-the-top, praise of Kolb that you could have sworn they'd already won at least three Super Bowls together.

The chemistry continued to build in the mini-camps.

"I think he's progressing a lot," tight end Brent Celek said. "Like I've always said before, I think the communication between him and the rest of the receivers and the running backs and tight ends has been key. And we talk after almost every play about what happened, what we saw, what he saw, just so we're on the same page, so when it comes game time, it's just natural."

Added wide receiver Jeremy Maclin: "He understands the offense very well. You would never know he's only started [two] games in his career, being as poised as he is and showing the leadership ability he does. He's definitely the type of guy you want leading your team."

No doubt Kolb is ready to call the signals and that his teammates are happy to have him in that role. There's just one small question remaining: Can he step into the fastest, quickest and most talented offense in franchise history and take it to a level it's never achieved?

That part can't possibly be answered in training camp, which opens Monday at Lehigh University when rookies and selected veterans report. Heck, it probably can't even be answered at any point in this coming season, a transition year in which the Eagles are not considered by most NFL insiders to be a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

Yet all eyes will be on Kolb. Every pass and decision he makes, every step he takes will be broken down by so many analysts — professional and amateur alike. His actions, comments and body language will be dissected. For his part, Kolb knows he has to be ready to handle the whole package starting Monday.

"There's two practices a day, there's media, there's fans," he said. "There's going to be a whole lot thrown to us at once and then you have to make sure you find time to rest. So it's going to be a new experience, but I'm looking forward to it and I'm ready to get out there and practice in front of the fans."

No matter how much early success Kolb may have, he should expect to sit for a handful of snaps every game because of the presence of backup Michael Vick, whom the Eagles reportedly considered releasing after a former crime associate of his was shot at Vick's birthday party in Virginia Beach this summer.

You all know the rest: Vick now cannot travel outside of Pennsylvania anymore (other than with the Eagles) without specific permission from his probation officer and continues to face legal proceedings due to personal bankruptcy.

But also know this: The coaching staff considers Vick to finally be all the way back to the form he displayed before being sent to federal prison on a dogfighting conspiracy conviction and missing all of the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

"I would expect him to be an even bigger influence on our offense and our football team this year," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told the Daily Press of Newport News (Va.) this week. "He has a great year under his belt. He knows our expectations. He's in great shape physically, so I would expect great things from Michael Vick this year.

"He's going to be on the field."

Vick played very sparingly as a change-of-pace/Wildcat quarterback last season. As Mornhinweg and head coach Andy Reid have been suggesting all along, the plan is for Vick to play more snaps this year.

If he's even half as good as advertised, it should make life that much easier for the Eagles' already powerful offense, which is equipped with tremendous receivers, an emerging running back in second-year performer LeSean McCoy and perhaps the best fullback in the conference, Leonard Weaver.

Still, it will all come back to Kolb, who was asked this spring if he feels like everyone will have their eyes on him.

"Not necessarily," he replied. "I want things as much team-oriented as possible. I want all eyes on everybody, and that's what we're trying to mold together here with this group. I feel like if it comes naturally, then there's really no pressure or second thought that needs to go into that. I don't let it weigh on me, I just do my thing and I do what I think is right and hopefully those are the things that are going to lead us to the Super Bowl."